Smokejumper Obituary: Trotter, Sherwood C. (Winthrop 1955)

Authors

National Smokejumper Association

Files

Obituary

Johnny Trotter, 80, died December 18, 2001, in Missoula after a 10-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and joined the 101st Airborne Division where he had combat jumps on D-Day and in Holland. Later he fought at Bastogne and into Germany. Johnny received three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and four Battle Stars for the European Theater. After graduating from Oregon State with a B.S. in Forestry in 1948, he began a long career with the U.S. Forest Service retiring in 1980. His first job was on the Umpqua Forest in Oregon. From there he became District Ranger on the Okanogan N.F. where he was known as the "smokejumping ranger." Johnny jumped at NCSB 1955-56. In 1969 he transferred to the regional office in Missoula and was director of soil, air, watershed and geology until his retirement. Johnny especially enjoyed reunions with "A" Company 506th parachute infantry buddies who were closer than brothers. As the 101ST Airborne "Screaming Eagles" would say, "Another eagle has soared."

Identifier

Trotter_Sherwood-C_Winthrop_1955

Publication Date

January 2002

Keywords

Smokejumping; Smokejumpers -- United States; National Smokejumper Association; Wildfire fighters; Obituaries

Disciplines

Forest Management

Recommended Citation

National Smokejumper Association, "Smokejumper Obituary: Trotter, Sherwood C. (Winthrop 1955)" (2002). Smokejumper Obituaries. 1208.
https://dc.ewu.edu/smokejumper_bios/1208